Friday, July 13, 2007

Week In Review (July 13, 2007)

Most Popular Federal Law Article

Health Benefit Cards: New Rules for 2008 and Beyond (pdf).
The IRS recently issued two pieces of much anticipated follow-up guidance to its original electronic payment card ("Card") guidance for health benefit cards. This guidance will substantially impact how health benefit cards are administered in 2008 and beyond to access funds in a flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). [Distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs) are not subject to the substantiation and other requirements discussed herein; so HSA benefit cards need not follow these rules.] Indeed, the IRS guidance shifts the paradigm from TPA-based adjudication to merchant-administered adjudication with the IRS’ approval of a merchant-based inventory information approval system (or “IIAS"). This advisory tracks through the IRS guidance and describes what’s permissible (and what’s not) under the new guidance.
Located On: Alston & Bird LLP

Most Popular State Law Article

South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Reform Signed Into Law (pdf).
On July 25, 2007, Governor Sanford signed a bill that makes a number of changes to South Carolina workers’ compensation system. Most of the changes apply to claims for injuries occuring on or after July 1, 2007.
Located On: Nexsen Pruet

Most Popular Headlines

‘Business casual’ causes confusion
USA Today - July 10, 2007